Flush-surface fill device



Nov. s, 1928. 1,690,914

A. T. WAKEFIELD FLUSH SURFACE FILL DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1927 7 I I 24. 25 1 8 ii 4 '1 w, ywfwm flu oooo e 1 4 Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,690,914 PATENT OFFICE- ARTHUR THOMAS wnxnrinnn, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN OIL COMPANY, oF BALTIMORE,- MARYLAND. I

FLUSH-SURFACE FILL 1JEVICE.

- Application filed February 14, 192?. Serial No. 188,160.

7 This invention relates to improvements in flush surface fill devices, particularly adapted for use in connection wlth the fill line pipe of an underground storage tank.

7 An object of this invention is to prov de a flush surface fill cap and casing which is adapted to be suitably connected by screw threads or otherwise to the, top of the fill pipe at a point which will bring the fill cap of the fill box casing flush with the surrounding surface of the ground or concrete in which the tank may be enclosed or covered. v

A further object of this invention is to provide a fill cap casing having suitably arranged therein means for gauging the contents of the underground tank, and at the same time eliminate projecting obstructions abovethe surface of the surrounding driveway, roadway of other territory, and, also, means for securely locking the fill line pipe against thepossibility of theft of gasoline \r otherlike liquid from the tank through the fill line, the lock being removably attached at the end of the fill line pipe located within the fill-box ,casing, the 11 cap and casing being the only means through which the underground tank may be provided with a supply of liquid.

Another object of this invention is ,to provide an eflicient means for clamping thefill cap in position in the fill box casing flush with the surrounding surface and. at the same time make it possible to easily release 0 the cap from clamped position and remove it from the fill box casing in order to obtain easy access to the closed and. locked end of the fill line pipe. y

, Other objects of this invention will appear from the following detailedde'scription of the device as disclosed inthe single sheet 01 drawings which is herewith made a part of this application. I

' In the drawings Figure 1 illustrates a verticalsectional view of the flush surface fill cap and casing disclosing the various elements in assembled 7 relationship.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the flush surface fill'cap and casing disclosing the means for releasing the lock bar and bolt in order to remove them, together with the cap-from the fill box casing.

Figure 3 illustrates a plan v1ew of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3.

and the tapered portion.

Numeral 1 designates a fill box casing made of any suitable material, such as cast iron, the upper end being openand having suitably positioned therein a shoulder portion 2 extending peripherallyinwardly of fill box casing 1 at a point spaced from the upper end thereof toaccommodate a fill cap-3 made of a suitable material.

The fill box casing 1 is formed at its lower end with an extended portion 4 adapted to be internally threaded as at 5 for the purpose of connecting with the fill line pipe of a storage tank not shown. Integrally connected to or cast within the casing l is an upwardly and outwardly tapered portion 6 having inwardly extending flange portions casing 1 to the fill pipe and its threaded connection 5, in order to provide a suitable seat upon which to position a fill cap 8 made of any suitable material, and provided with a peripherally downwardly extending flange 9, thereby providing a construction which will assure a firm and complete closure of the opening 10 in the upper end of the-tapered portion 6 within the casing whenthe cap 8 is brought into clamped position thereon by Inea-ns described herewith.

A threaded bolt 11 is adapted to slidably extend through openingl2 in the flush cap 3,- the bolt 11. being form'edhaving a suitable head portion 13 of hexagonal shape of otherwise which may be conveniently operated for thedouble purpose of lifting the cap portion 3 from the fill box casing 1 when desired, and of bringing the cap portion .8 and theflush cap portion 3 into firm interlocked relationship withthe shoulder extensions 52 at the top of the casing l In order to accomplish the desired clamping effects, it is preferred, in this invention, to provide a threaded lock bar 14 for the bolt 11, the lock bar l i being adapted to be brought under tension at its ends in cooperation with the bolt and the inwardly extending shoulder element 2, thereby functioning to bring the flush cap 3 into a firmly closed relationship to the casing 1 within-the seat portion 15,'and at the same time, the threadedbolt, being of a proper-length to contact with the cap vporfor the easy removal of ice, dirt or other sub-- stances which accumulate in the grooves of like type.

At the lower end of the bolt 11 is adapted to be positioned a pin 18 and jamb nut 19 forthe purpose of maintaining the lock bar 14 and the flush cap element 3 in assembled relationship at all times, both in interlocked relationship with the fill box casing 1, and when released and removed from the casing. In order to conveniently and quickly bring the flush cap 3 into interlocked or released relationship with the fill box casing 1, it is preferred, in this invention, to provide the inwardly extending shoulder portion 2 with notched elements 20, one notch for each end of the lock bar 14, and diametrically opposite to each other around the periphery of the shoulder portions 2. Downwardly extending lug elements 21 from the shoulder portions 2 are located adjacent the slots 20 in such a manner that they will function to cooperate in bringing the lock bar 14 under tension in case of either a left or right handed thread bolt. In common practice aright handed bolt is used, therefore, the downwardly extending lug portions 21 would be at the lower left hand side of the slot portions20, and vice versa, in case of a left hand thread. The lugs 21 are made of sufficient length so as to allow, .when releasing the cap, of bringing the lock bar 14; into direct alignment with the slot portions 20 so that the cap, the bar and the bolt may easily be lifted from the casing 1. y

In order to securely lock the opening 10' in the tapered portion 6 against theft of the liquid in the storage tank it is preferred, in this invention, to securely fasten a suitable lock 22 to the cap 8 by means of a machine screw 23 or otherwise, the lock 22 being provided with locking elements 2 1 and 25 which are adapted to cooperate with suitable grooves in the inwardly extending flange portions 7 in order to release the cap 8 after the removal of the flush cap 3, it is rea measuring chain or rod 26 through asleeve 27 which is adapted to be positioned in the for convenience in manipulating the measuring chain or rod.

In order to allow for the easy removal of the cap portion 8 in casing 1, a handle 29 is attached to the cap 8, being of a chain type or any other suitable form.

In operation, this invention provides a flush surface fill device which may be easily attached tothe' ordinary fill pipe of an underground storage tank.

In connecting the fill box casing 1 to the ordinary fill pipe, it is essential to cut off thefill pipe at the corre'st height which will bring the top of the flush surface cap to coincide with-the surface of thedriveway, roadway or other location in which the storage tank may be placed. After the proper preparations have been made, the fill boxcasin'g 1 is fastened to the fill pipe and then the cap portion 8 is placed in position,

including its locking element 22, on the tapered portion 6 extending within the fill nozzle, after which the fill pipe is locked by means of lock 22. Having placed these elements in position, the flush cap 3, bolt 11 and lock bar 14 are lowered into position within the fill box 1 through the notched elements 20. By means of an ordinary wrench, it is merely necessary to bring tension on the lock bar by turning the headed portion 13 of the bolt 11 until the lock bar binds against the lug 21, when it will merely be necessary to make another half turn or so in order to force the flush cap 3 down on top of the fill oasing'l, making, therefore, everything rigid and tight. In order to release the device, it is merely necessary to release tension on the head 13 of the bolt 11 until the lock bar 14. strikes against the lug 21, at which point it will be easy to lift the flush cap, together with the lock bar 14 and bolt, from-the casing 1, after which the lock 22, connected with the cap portion 8, may be easily released.

What I claim is: i

1. In a flush surface fill. device comprising a casing having'open'ends'at top and bottom, a flush cap for the top opening, a

threaded portion at the bottom opening for connecting with a fill pipe of a storage tank, a threaded lock bar and bolt slidably arranged in the flush cap, means for bringing the flush cap under tension in closed relationship at the top opening comprising an inwardly extending shoulder portion of the casing, lug portions extending downwardly from the shoulder against which the ends of the lock bar are adapted to bind, an

upwardly open ended extending portion within the casing delivering into the fill pipe of the storage tank for giving easy.

access on the removal of the flush cap, a sleeve cap for the upwardly extending portion, means for bringing the sleeve cap in to interlocked relationship with the open ended upwardly extending portion. at the same time the flush cap is being. brought under tension.

2. In a flush surface fill device comprising a casing having openends at to and bottom, a flush cap for the top opening, a threaded portion at the bottom opening for connecting with a fill pipe of a storage tank, a threaded lock bar and bolt slidably arranged in the flush cap, means for bringing the flush cap under tension in closed relationship at the'top opening comprising an inwardly extending shoulder portion of the casing, lug portions extending downwardly from the shoulder against which the ends of the lock bar are adapted to bind, an upwardly open ended extending portion within the casing delivering into the fill pipe of the storage tank for giving easy access on the removal of the flush cap, a sleeve cap I for the upwardly extending portion, means for bringing the sleeve cap into interlocked relationship with the open ended upwardly extending portion at the same time the flush cap is being brought under tension, consisting of an opening in the sleeve cap to receive an end of the bolt.

3. In a flush surface fill device comprising a casing having open ends at top and bottom, a flush cap for the top opening, a threaded portion at the bottom opening for connecting with a fill pipe of a storage tank, a threaded lock bar and bolt slidably arranged in the flush cap, means for bringing the flush cap under tension in closed' relationship at the top opening comprising an inwardly extending shoulder portion of tion, means for bringing the sleeve cap into interlocked relationship with the open ended upwardly extending portion at the same time the flush cap is being brought under tension, consisting ofan opening in the sleeve cap to receive an end of the bolt, means for locking the open ended upwardly extending portion consisting of a locking device attached to the sleeve cap.

4:. The combination with a fill line pipe, of an underground storage tank, of a flush surface fill casing, of a cap for the casing,

of means forbringing the cap into interlocked relationship with the casing comprising a, threaded lock bar and bolt, of means within the casing for locking the fill line against robbery consisting of an upwardly extending open ended portion within'the casing, a removable flange cap having a suitable lock attached thereto for closing and interlocking with the upwardly extended portion, and oftension means for bringingv the removable flange cap into closed relationship with the open ended portion consisting of a threaded bolt. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. ARTHUR THOMAS WAKEFIELD. 

